Zambia: Forty-four soldiers to be executed

Amnesty
International is strongly urging President Levy Mwanawasa of
Zambia to use his constitutional prerogative to immediately
commute the death sentences confirmed by the Supreme Court
of Zambia on 44 soldiers for their role in a failed 1997
coup.

While Amnesty International recognizes the right of
states to bring to justice all those suspected of
involvement in criminal acts, the organization believes that
executing the soldiers will be a violation of their
fundamental human rights.

"These men have not been
convicted of any offence which caused the death or injury of
another and consequently international standards would
prohibit the use of the death penalty against them," Amnesty
International said. 'Furthermore, it appears that several of
the accused were tortured and that evidence obtained as a
result of torture was subsequently used against them during
their trials. To execute these men would be a violation of
international law.'

Amnesty International opposes the
death penalty in all circumstances, considering it to be a
violation of the right to life and the right not to be
subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment. 'The evidence in support of abolition of the
death penalty becomes more compelling with each passing
year,' the organization said. 'Everywhere experience shows
that executions brutalize those involved in the process.
Nowhere has it been shown that the death penalty has
resulted in a reduction in crime.'

There have been
important steps towards abolition of the death penalty
across Southern Africa in recent years. Angola, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa have all
abolished the death penalty. In addition the President of
Malawi has given an undertaking not to authorize any
executions as long as he is in office.

Under Article 59 of
the Zambian Constitution, the President has the prerogative
to pardon a convicted person or to reduce the sentence in
any way.

Until such a time as the death penalty is
abolished, Amnesty International is urging President
Mwanawasa to:

- commute the death sentences of all those
convicted of crimes for which the death sentence is
mandatory; and - declare an immediate moratorium on the use
of the death penalty, for Zambia to be in accordance with
international and regional trends towards abolition of the
death penalty.

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